Fortress GB , a United Kingdom-based developer and provider of multi-application smart card solutions, including its Smart Campus Scheme for universities, has added another stadium to its roster of those enabling card-based access and in-stadium purchases.

JJB Stadium, home to Wigan Athletic Football Club and Wigan Rugby League, is the latest stadium to join the Smart FC Scheme from Fortress. In doing so, the JJB becomes a further stadium in the UK to sign up to Fortress’ squad, following in the footsteps of many other prestigious clubs including Liverpool FC, Manchester City FC, Reading FC and West Ham United FC.

As with all these stadiums, Wigan Athletic and Wigan Rugby League are now enjoying the benefits of ultra-quick and safe smart card stadium access, provided through a platform which also offers fans the ability to use their smart RF cards for in-stadium purchases, loyalty point collection and parking payment; and in so doing generates new revenues for the club.

The multi-application smart card scheme went live at the JJB for the match between Wigan v Rotherham on Saturday 2nd October 2004, and the feedback from the Club and fans has been positive.

Andrew Forsyth, JJB Stadium Ticket Office Manager commented: “At the JJB Stadium we were looking for a system that would control access for football, rugby and any other events, like internationals and possibly concerts. We needed an effective and proven product that we could rely on absolutely to ensure match entrances were fast and safe. We also wanted a system that could drive revenues and offer fans the best possible match day experience. Fortress were able to supply a system that did all this and more, while offering the highest standard of customer service”

Fortress contactless card readers have been fitted to the JJB’s turnstiles meaning that all season ticket holders can enter the ground with just a waive of their season ticket. The system is very robust, and can cope with network and power failure. Improved security is achieved through a unique reporting facility, presenting live fan information at the stadium’s control room. This allows the venue to know which fan entered the stadium, when and through which turnstile.

Importantly the implementation of the system at the JJB took place in a record time of over a month.

Interoperability
Of particular excitement is the fact that a Wigan smart card will work at all other Fortress stadiums, so for example, when Wigan Athletic play Reading, Wigan fans can use their cards to buy tickets for this game, and use just these cards to enter Reading’s Madejski Stadium.

About Fortress GB
Fortress GB is a UK based developer and provider of cutting edge, versatile multi-application smart card solutions. The company’s expertise in cryptography and highly secure smart cards positions it perfectly to deal with projects requiring high level, multi-function access control systems. The company’s Smart FC Scheme has been developed and perfected over the past two year in the field, at UK stadiums and has won the smart card industry’s Oscar – the Sesame Best Software Award in 2003. www.fortressgb.com